About Murgantia histrionica (Hahn, 1834)
The harlequin cabbage bug, whose scientific name is Murgantia histrionica, is also commonly called the calico bug, fire bug, or simply harlequin bug. It is a black stinkbug belonging to the family Pentatomidae, with bright contrasting markings in red, orange, yellow, and white. This species is a major pest of cabbage and related crops in the plant family Brassicaceae, as well as the ornamental flower cleme, across tropical regions and North America. It is particularly widespread in the warmer regions of the United States. Nymphs of the harlequin cabbage bug are active during the summer. In tropical areas, this bug can produce three to six generations each year. In its more northern distribution range, there is only one generation per year, and adult insects overwinter in crop residue or along field edges. For organic control of this pest, practitioners hand-pick the insects off plants (dropping them into soapy water to drown), and take extra care to remove and destroy all the bug's eggs. The eggs are black-and-white striped, and are laid in clutches of twelve.
